Support device for baby&#39;s comfort

ABSTRACT

A supporting device for the newborn baby comfort comprising an ergonomic newborn supporting system, at least a power supply to operate the electronic devices, at least an audio system recording and reproducing the mother&#39;s voice and heartbeat using a recording device and a plurality of loudspeakers so that the emitted sound allows a soft rumble/vibration of the outermost layer of the support, leverage system to expand and shrink the outer surface of the support so that the mother&#39;s breath is simulated, at least a heating system to reproduce the human temperature, an electronic console and a set of safety holding devices for the newborn baby such as harnesses, bands and the like.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage under 35 USC 371 of PCT application PCT/IB2011/054840 with an international filing date of 31 Oct. 2011. The application claims foreign priority of application TO2011A000119 filed in Italy on Feb. 11, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1.Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a supporting device for newborn baby comfort, intended to be used to simulate the newborn baby physical contact with his or her mother not only during breast-feeding time but also during the next months. In particular, the device simulates the newborn baby's mother heartbeat, heat, voice and chest breath movement.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

In the technical field of the devices for newborn baby comfort there are available ergonomic pillows and bands for both mother and newborn baby, sounding devices for simulating the newborn baby while playing or sleeping. For a better newborn baby growth, pediatricians recommend a continual mother/newborn baby contact also during the first months after the pregnancy, but it usually happens that the mother has to reduce the contact time with her child for different physical, personal and professional reasons.

An example of a device apt to simulate a living animal is disclosed in document US2009/0156089 A1. Other documents in the same technical field are U.S. Pat. No. B1-7475441, U.S. Pat. No. B1-7464424 and U.S. Pat. No. B1-6189487

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aim of the present invention is to provide a solution to the problem of reduced contact time between the mother and her child by simulating the mother/newborn baby contact time in to achieve the maximum comfort for the newborn baby and to relieve the mother in some moments of the day. The device is designed to simulate the mother heartbeat, body temperature, voice and chest breath movement when the newborn baby is rested on the device which is provided with the ergonomic features as described in claim 1.

The device has the advantage of reduced dimensions and is shaped as a woman chest/trunk; it is also soft as a human body and can be accommodated on a rocking chair or similar.

Another advantage is that it reproduces the mother's real voice and breathing in two modes, i.e. “free ear” and “covered ear”. In the “covered ear” position, the newborn baby body and his/her head are rested on the surface of the support with the newborn baby having one free ear and the other one in direct contact with the support exactly as when a newborn baby is rested on the mother breast; otherwise the newborn baby is the “free ear” position in which the vibration effect is felt/perceived by the newborn baby from the direct contact with the mother's rib cage of which sounds and vibrations are simulated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages will be better highlighted in the following detailed description which refers to the drawing 1/1 describing an absolutely not limiting preferred embodiment of the present invention. In particular:

FIG. 1 shows a tridimensional view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the inventive device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to said figures, the device according to the invention is generally indicated by the reference number 1 and shown on FIGS. 1 and 2. It comprises a newborn baby ergonomic supporting means 2, at least a power supply system for the electronic devices 3, at least an audio reproducing system 4, 5, 6, at least a leverage system 7, at least a heating system 8, at least an audio, temperature, leverage mechanic motion control/actuation/acquisition system 9. In particular, said audio reproducing system 4, 5, 6 is apt to reproduce the human voice, breath and heartbeat and is comprising a plurality of loudspeakers 4 positioned inside the support upper portion with diffusion outside the support in order to reproduce the mother's voice, and a plurality of loudspeakers 5, 6 positioned inside the support, so that the emitted sound causes a soft vibration of the outermost layer of the support.

Referring to FIG. 1, the newborn baby ergonomic structure 2 can have different shapes as for example the woman trunk, and is characterized by an outer coating layer and a structural inner portion wherein the coating layer portion (approximately 2-3 cm thick) has a consistence similar to the human body epidermis and is made of soft materials such as silicone, resins or similar; the inner structural portion is instead made of materials both apt to give shape to the structure and soft, light and resistant as for example polyurethane foam, polystyrene or similar.

In a particular embodiment, said supporting system 2 is provided with safety holding devices for the newborn baby, such as harnesses, bands and the like. Moreover, referring to FIG. 2, said heating means 8 is designed to heat the surface portion of the supporting structure in contact with the newborn baby to simulate the human physiological body temperature of approximately 36.5° C. For example, the heating means 8 is made by introducing an electric resistance inside the outermost layer of the support, so that the front portion of the supporting surface of the newborn baby on the supporting system 2 is uniformly heated.

In order to reproduce the mother breath, the expansion/shrinkage effect perceived by the newborn baby from the direct contact with the rib cage during the mother breath, the movement is reproduced by a leverage system 7 contained inside the supporting structure 2, so that the few degrees variation of the levers angle allows to expand and shrink the outer surface of the support 2, preferably synchronously with the audio reproduction.

Finally, said audio temperature, leverage mechanic motion control/actuation/acquisition system 9 is introduced in an easily removable container inside the support, and is designed to acquire, store and process the signal so that the heating means 8, the audio reproducing system 4, 5, 6 and the leverage motion 7 are actuated.

In particular, said audio control/actuation/acquisition system 9 comprises an electronic control console, an audio acquisition device such as a microphone, an elastic band linked to a sensor apt to measure the volumetric variation of the mother's trunk during breathing, and a device for the mother's heartbeat acquisition.

In a particular, according to the embodiment in FIG. 2, said previously described electronic devices are powered by a battery supplying system 3 or are connected directly to the external electric, wherein the battery has an autonomy of operation of some hours, and it is rechargeable by arranging it in its housing inside the support connected to the domestic electric outlet.

The functioning mode of said device allows the synchronous or asynchronous functioning of the audio reproducing system 4, 5, 6, the heating means 8, the motion of the leverage system 7 by means of the audio control/actuation/acquisition system 9.

In particular, the motion of the leverage system 7 occurs preferably in synchronous with the audio reproducing system 4, 5, 6.

The above described embodiment is clearly only a not limiting example of the inventive device.

This device has also the advantage that it can be realized in different shapes and sizes; and that it can be housed under different surfaces (rocking chair, bed, sofa) and it is easily transportable. 

1. A supporting device (1) for a newborn baby comfort comprising: a newborn baby ergonomic supporting system (2); at least an electric power supply system (3) to power the electronic devices, at least an audio reproducing system (4, 5, 6), to reproduce the human voice, breath and heartbeat comprising: a plurality of loudspeakers (4) for sound diffusion outside the upper portion of said ergonomic supporting system (2) to reproduce the mother's voice; a plurality of loudspeakers (5, 6) positioned inside said supporting system (2), so that the emitted sound causes a soft rumble/vibration of the outermost layer of said supporting system (2); at least an aided leverage system (7) to allow expanding and shrinking the outer surface of said supporting system (2) to simulate human breathing, at least a heating system (8) to heat the surface portion of the supporting system (2) in contact with the newborn baby; at least an audio, temperature, leverage mechanic motion control/actuation/acquisition system (9) to process a signal so that the heating system (8), the audio reproducing system (4, 5, 6) and the aided leverage system (7) are actuated and wherein said audio, temperature, leverage mechanic motion control/actuation/acquisition system (9) comprises an electronic control console, an audio acquisition device such as f r example a microphone and the like, an elastic band linked to a sensor apt to measure the volumetric variation of the mother's trunk during breathing, a device for heartbeat acquisition, to acquire and store heartbeat data.
 2. A supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said newborn baby ergonomic supporting system (2) comprises an outer coating portion having a consistence similar to the human body epidermis and made of silicone, or resins or similar material; an inner structural portion made of materials apt to give shape to the supporting system (2); said inner structural portion being soft, light and resistant, made of polyurethane foam, or polystyrene or similar material.
 3. (canceled)
 4. A supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said heating system (8) is apt to heat the surface portion of the newborn baby ergonomic supporting system (2) to simulate the human physiological body temperature.
 5. A supporting device according to claim 4, wherein said heating system (8) is introduced inside the outermost coating layer of the newborn baby ergonomic supporting system (2) to heat uniformly said outermost coating layer.
 6. A supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said audio, temperature, leverage mechanic motion control/actuation/acquisition system (9) and said leverage system (7) are mounted inside an easily removable container which, in turn, is lodged inside said newborn baby ergonomic supporting system (2).
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. A supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said power supply system (3) is a battery provides a connection directly to an external power supply.
 10. A supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said newborn baby ergonomic supporting system (2) comprises safety holding devices for the newborn baby such as harnesses, bands and the like and it can be mounted on a rocking surface or the like.
 11. Functioning method of said supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the audio, temperature, leverage mechanic motion control/actuation/acquisition system (9) allows the synchronous or asynchronous actuation control of the audio reproducing system (4, 5, 6), the 